Appeal against Sperrins windfarm decision rejected by PAC

Shauna Corr

The Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) has rejected an application to overturn the council’s decision to refuse Mullaghturk wind farm.

Mid Ulster District council said no to the application for seven wind turbines in the Sperrins, near Mullaghturk, in May 2015. At the time, planning committee chair, Martin Kearney, said: “Wind farms continue to cause strong reactions in rural areas.”

An appeal was subsequently lodged with the PAC, but news broke late last week that this had been dismissed.

Outlining reasons for the decision, the PAC commissioner said: “The appeal is dismissed and full planning permission is refused.

“I have concluded that the proposed wind energy development would have an unacceptable and significant adverse visual impact.”